Signal



April 14, 1925.

P. J. FORSYTHE 3 1 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY WITN ESSES:

, P. J. FORSYTHE SIGNAL Filed July 25, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EY WITNESSES:

April 14, 1925.

P. J. FORSYTHE SIGNAL Filed July 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR W BY 46% 0 I ATTORNEY WITNESSEJS Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

s'mrss PAUL Jesse's sees-seas, or ntiioiiniio, Kassie;

SIGNAL.

Application fiiea iulyas, 1921. Serial No. 437,392.

To all 111720122 it may concern: 7

Be it known that 1," PAUL J I Fonsr'rrrn, a citizen oi the United States, residingat Eldorado, in the county of Butler and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signals, 01'' which the following is a specification:

This invention relates ,to signaling devices, particularly to direction indicators iioiveliicle's, and has for its object the provision of a signal device adaptedto be mounted upon amotor vehicle and operable whereby to apprise following trtfiic of any intended change in the direction-of t'avel or of a contemplated stop, the device having the advantage of facilitating traffic and reducing the danger of accident;

An important objectis theprovision ota. device of this character which is electrically operated whereby the action is all controlled by the manipulation of suitable switches lo cated uponor near-the steering column or at any suitable location convenient to the operator. y

A further object is the provision of a'signal of this character which is adapted for useat night as well; as by day,- automatic switch means beiirgprovided for energizing certain signal lights simultaneously with the movement of semaphore arms, the lightmeans being of course inoperative in day time.

Stillanother object is the provision ofa device of this character which is all housed within a sii'ig-le casing-which also carries a tail light and which furthern'i'ore carries a flood light a'daptedfto illuminate the roadway at therear of themachine in caseitis desired to back.

An additional object is the provision oi? a device of this character whicl' will be simple and inexpensive in' manufacture,easy to instal-lfand operate, highly eflicientin use, durable in service, and a general improvementfinthe art. y, .Y

With the above and other objects and advantagesin view, the invention consistsin the'details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying' drawings in which H Figure-l-is an*el'evation ofmy device,

Figure 2 is'a similar view withthe cover plate removed, v

FigureB is averti'cal longitudinal section taken at right angles to Figure 2,-

Figure 4: is a vertical sectional view taken in advance of the plane of Figure 2 and showingthe switch mechanism,

lligure 5 is a horizontal sectional View taken above the switch mechanism, and

The 'reniaining figures are detail views: Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown my device as comprising an upright casing carrying an arm 11 which might be a bracket or which may be adapted for connection with a bracket 12 secured upon some convenient location'o'ii'; the vehicle. Associated with this casing 10 are arms 13 which are slotted, as shown, whereby license plates maybe carried them by. Located within the bottom portion 01":

the casingis a suitable socket 14 carrying' an incandescent bulb 15. The casing 10 is covered by a removable coverldheld in place by ,any'suitable means as by means of screws 17 passing'through lugs 18 on the cover. At the lower part of the cover is an opei'iingjcovered by red glass" 19: located near the bulb and this constitutes the tail light structure,

One side o'ilithe casi'ng is provided with an openingfiO covered-byclear glass whereby iil'i'ite'liglit from thejb-ulb 15 will shine upon the license tag or tags; as requiredby law, flhe socket llis connected with the lighting wiring of the car in the ordinary manner, v .7 V

At the intermediate portion oft-he cover 16 I providean openingcovered by plain glass 21; and within this opening is mounted areflector 22 atthe center of which is disposed a socket 23 carry ng a bulb This socket 23 is connected in ciicijiit with the source of ciurent' of the car and with a suitable independentcontrol switch, not shown, mounted at some convenient pointlwithin reach of the operator whereby .tliebulb 24: may be energized to throw a flood light to the rear of the vehicle for illuminating the roadway when it is desired toback.

Secured against the back wall of the casing 1O aretwo solenoids 25 and 26 with which are associated slidable cores orjarmat'ures 27 and 28, respectively. Secured within theupper portion of the casing is an arm, 29 provided With a bearing for-onerend of a horizontally disposed shaft 30; which has its other end jo-urnaled infithje" back of "the casing. Secured upon this shaft is asemaphore blade 31 which isnotmally disposed within the casing in vertical depending-po sition and which is adapted to swing into horizontal position through a slot 32 in one side of the casing. Also secured upon this shaft is an arm 33 with which is pivotally connected one end of an arcuate link 34.- with the intermediate portion of which is pivoted a link 35 pivotally connected with the core or armature 27.

Rotatable upon the shaft 30 is a sleeve 36 upon which is rigidly secured a semaphore blade 37. Also secured upon this sleeve 36 is an arm 38 with which is pivotally connected an arcuate link 39 which is in turn pivotally connected intermediate its ends with a. link 40 pivotally connected with the core or armature 28. The semaphore blades 31 and 37 may bear the legends Right and Left, respectively, and may be colored the same or have different colors as may be preferred, so as to attract attention. The casing is also provided with a slot 41 through which the semaphore blade 37 may pass when it swings to horizontal position.

The solenoids 25 and 26 have their windings connected in circuit with a suitable source of current which would ordinarily be the storage battery of an automobile and included in this circuit is asuitable switch mechani m which might be of special construction but is herein illustrated as being merely diagrammatic. It is of course necessary that an independent switch be provided for each solenoid and this switch mechanism is entirely independent of'any switches which might be used for controlling the energization of the tail light 14 and the flood light bulb 24. Ordinarily both of the semaphore blades hang downwardly and are confined entirely within the casing. In case it is desired to turn in one direction or the other the operator closes the proper switch which will result in energization of the proper one of the solenoids 25 or When a solenoid is energized the core orQS thereof will be drawn upwardly thereinto. It should be stated that the arcuate links 34 and 39 are formed with notches 42 which are normally engaged upon a keeper 43 mounted within the casing for holding the semaphore bladesin their downwardly extending position and preventing them from movement. lVhen a selected solenoid is energized, as above described, and the core therein is moved upwardly, the first result will be upward movement of the associated arcuate link 34 or 39 so as to release the notch 42 from engagement with the keeper 43. The continued movement of course results in swinging of the arm 33 or 38, as the case may be, resultant rotation of the shaft 30 'or s'leeve 3G and this will of course result in upward swinging movement of the desired semaphore blade to horizontal or signaling posi-v tion. When the switch is subsequently opened the semaphore blade previously raised will gradually descend to normal or initial position. It is of course to be understood thatv when the operator of the vehicle intends to turn to the rigth he closes the switch which will cause the right hand semaphore blade to swing to signaling position and when he intends to turn to the left he closes the other switch for causing the left hand semaphore blade to be elevated. In case of an intended stop the operator may move both switches or a separate switch connected in series therewith for causing elevation of both semaphore blades.

In order to adapt the device for night use I provide sockets 44 and 45 suitably mounted within the casing back of openings in the cover thereof, these openings being covered by colored glass panes 46 and 47. I also provide a socket 48 mounted within the easing back of an opening covered by a red glass 49. The arm 29 supports on its upper surface the ends of a pair of oppositely inclined arms 48 and 49' respectively and said arms 48 and 49 are arranged to define a substantially V-shaped yoke. The arm 48 is insulated from the arm 49 as clearly shown at 49 but both arms 48 and 49 are in the circuit of the lighting system. The free end of the arm 48 is designed to carry, but insulated therefrom, a contact 50 and a noninsulated stationary contact 51 engageable with the contact 50. This end of the arm 48 also carries contacts 50 and 51, both of which are insulated from the arm 48, and are engageable with each other. iVhen the semaphore blade 31 is raised, the above mentioned contacts are interposed in the circuit so that the engagement of the contacts will cause the bulb 52 within the socket 44 to be energized. The energization of this bulb of course shows a colored light to the rear and I also provide an opening 53 within one side of the casing whereby light from this bulb 52 will shine upon the sema phore blade 31. The free end of the arm 49 is designed similar to the free end of the arm 48" and carries contact 54 which is insulated therefrom and a non-insulated contact 55. The contacts 54 and'55 are engageable with each other. The arm 49 also carries contacts 54 and 55, engageable with each other but insulated from the arm. l/Vhen the semaphore blade 37 is raised to signaling position, these contacts are closed, being interposed in the circuits with the socket 45 carrying a bulb 56. The engagement of the contacts 54, 55 54 and 55 will of course result in energization of the bulb 56 which will cause a colored light to be displayed through the pane v47 andit is also preferable to provide an opening 57 in the side of the casing whereby this light will shine upon a semaphore blade 37. Suitably connected in circuit with both sets of these contacts is a socket 48 which carries a bulb 58 so that when both semaphore blades are raised, by closing of the proper switch mechanism by the driver, not only the bulbs 52 and 56 will be energized but also the bulb 58 whereby a red light shines through the pane 4:9 in addition to the colored lights at the panes 46 and 47. It is of course preferable to interpose a suitable control switch in the circuit whereby all the lightin apparatus will be inoperative in daytime.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and consequently inexpensive device whereby the operator of a motor vehicle may quickly and easily signal any intention to change the direction of his travel or to stop whereby to apprise following traffic of the intention in order to avert accidents and traffic congestion. It will be noted that my device amply provides for all contingencies and is fully operative regardless of whether its use be desired by day or by night. 7

While 1 have shown and, described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Asignal con'iprising a casing, a bracket mounted on one wall thereof, a rotatable shaft mounted between the bracket and the casing wall, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft, semaphores carried by the shaft and sleeve respectively, links depending from the shaft and sleeve provided with notched edges, a keeper positioned beneath the shaft and provided with a central apertured web, a locking flange on either side thereof, the links depending from the shaft and sleeve operating through the aperture of the web to slidingly engage their respective flanges, and means to move the semaphores into operative position.

2. A signal comprising a casing, a bracket mounted on one wall thereof, a rotatable shaft mounted between the bracket and the casing wall, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft, semaphores carried by the shaft and sleeve respectively, crank arms carried by the shaft and sleeve and extending therefrom on opposite sides, arcuate links pivotally carried. by the crank arms, said links being provided with notched edges, a common keeper positioned centrally beneath the. shaft, said keeper including an apertured, upstanding web, a locking flange on either side thereof, the pivoted links depending from the crank arms operating through the aperture of the web from opposite sides thereof in spaced apart parallel planes and slidably engaging their respective flanges, and means 'to move the semaphores into a isible position.

3. A signal comp-rising a casing, a bracket mounted on one wall of the casing interiorly thereof, a rotatable shaft j ournalled between the wall and the bracket, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft, semaphores carried by the shaft and sleeve respectively, locking means carried by each of the semaphores whereby to maintain them in an inoperative position, a'common keeper engaging both of said locking means, and means to rotate the shaft and sleeve independently to actuate the semaphores. I

t. A signal comprising a casing, a bracket mounted on one wall of the casing interiorly thereof, a rotatable shaft journalled between the wall and the bracket, a sleeve rotatably' mounted on the shaft, semaphores carried by the shaft and sleeve respectively, locking links pivotally carried by the shaft and sleeve respectively and designed to operate in over-lapping relation in spaced apart parallel vertical planes, a common keeper positioned centrally beneath the shaft and adapted to engage the locking links whereby to maintain the semaphores in an inoperative position and means to rotate the shaft and sleeve to actuate the semaphores.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa-- ture. V i

PAUL JOSEPH FORSYTI-IE. 

